Builders on-line assistant

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus are provided for servicing customers of a plurality of builders or a plurality of builders through a third-party website provider. The method includes the steps of the plurality of builders providing product offerings to customers through a first website provided by the third-party website provider. The method also includes the steps of a customer of the plurality of customers and a builder of the plurality of builders entering into a contract to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer at a building site of the real estate, said contract forming a pre-existing contract, the customer viewing and selecting product options of product offerings available from or through the builder through the first website and receiving from the customer through the first website a selection of an option of the options provided by the builder. The method further includes the steps of incorporating the selected options, into a new or modification of the pre-existing contract and the third-party website collecting a fee or commission based upon the products viewed by and selections made by the customer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/768,476 filed Jan. 24, 2001 and entitled “BUILDERS ON-LINE ASSISTANT” filed on Jan. 24, 2001 (pending) which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/483,579, filed on Jan. 14, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,076,455.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to the real estate building and construction industry and more particularly to methods of facilitating the offering or sale of construction products or services by a third-party.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/768,476 entitled BUILDERS ON-LINE ASSISTANT filed on Jan. 24, 2001 (pending) which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/483,579, filed on Jan. 14, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,076,455.

The invention relates to the real estate building and construction industry and more particularly to methods of coordinating, displaying, processing and expediting the selection processes of real estate building and construction products and services, also known as standards, extras or options. The home-building business is used as a primary illustration, but this invention also applies to commercial, office, and other construction and renovation. Architects, realtors, property managers, designers, renovators and home buyers and sellers may find this invention useful, in addition to builders.

Construction is a very detail-oriented industry. Often a real estate buyer, tenant or end-user (henceforth collectively referred to as “customer”) and real estate supplier, seller, builder, installer, general contractor or sub-contractor (henceforth collectively referred to as “builder”) will meet many times to explore, select and negotiate overall scope and terms of a construction project. Often the only basis that a builder may have for quoting a price is a vague list or set of architectural drawings or layouts and a general “sense” of what customers desire. The builder may refer to manufacturers catalogs for list prices. However, even there, some builders receive a substantial discount over other builders. In such cases, the builder may estimate the cost of “fitting out” a building based upon past experience or upon local trade craft for “typical” or “standards”. Alternatively, the builder may calculate the man hours involved times a man rate plus the cost of materials to arrive at a total project cost plus a reasonable profit margin.

In the case of new construction, a myriad of standard or above standard choices faces the customer usually once a contract has been signed. Often a builder will provide a number of standards and options with regard to design and functionality. Some options may relate to rooms such as a kitchen layout. A number of more technical mechanical/system options, such as electrical outlets or heating and cooling, may also be provided. Changes to a plan's electrical and plumbing systems, basement (either finished or unfinished), or garages may be available. Each option or package of options usually has its own advantages, costs or preferences and disadvantages that may appeal to one customer over another.

As the overall layout and functionality of a house is complete, the selection process may become even more involved. Design preferences such as floor coverings must be selected, kitchen and bathroom fixtures and finishes must be finalized, paint colors for walls or wallpaper must be chosen.

The finalization of kitchen design is an especially complex process of integrating the various parts of design, products and “hook-up” of water, mechanical systems, electric services, and other systems. Kitchen cabinets must be selected from any of a number of confusingly similar quantity, quality and feature options. Countertops, sinks and faucets must be coordinated to fit and function. Provision must be made for built-in appliances. Water, sewer and electric connections must be considered for each option. After cabinets have been selected, appliances may be ordered to conform to the overall design, or visa versa.

Bathroom choices are equally complex. Fixtures such as sinks, toilets, tubs and faucets must be selected. If the bathroom is to be tiled, then a type and color(s) must be selected to conform to the other choices.

Usually a builder provides an allowance for each option. The cheapest (or most popular) option may be included in the overall construction price. Where another option is selected, the customer may incur an additional charge or receive credit against the construction price, which must be included in calculations regarding credit, product installations and profit. The cost of labor expended in making design changes and installing options is another variable builders consider when pricing materials and substitutions, or offering credits.

While builders and customers may painstakingly track the customer selection process, the process requires countless hours spent presenting options and recording customer choices. Additional time is wasted relaying these various, interrelated choices to sub-contractors, vendors, distributors, manufacturers, purchasing managers, and job site personnel (henceforth collectively referred to as “trades”). Further, no true “retail” outlet exists for these options, essentially sub-trade industry products (i.e., faucets are available at plumbing supply showrooms, doors and trim at lumber yards, appliances at appliance stores). New construction products frequently vary from similar renovation products. Likewise, varied industry and non-trade pricing and discounts apply to these industry products.

Where the customer and builder have busy schedules, choices are often not made in a timely manner. Further, the Statute of Frauds requires a written note or memorandum (e.g., a signed contract, change order, etc.). Accordingly, a need exists for a means of facilitating the presentation and documentation process of products, services and processes of the construction industry.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method and apparatus are provided for servicing customers of a plurality of builders or a plurality of builders through a third-party website provider. The method includes the steps of the plurality of builders providing product offerings to customers through a first website provided by the third-party website provider. The method also includes the steps of a customer of the plurality of customers and a builder of the plurality of builders entering into a contract to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer at a building site of the real estate, said contract forming a pre-existing contract, the customer viewing and selecting product options of product offerings available from or through the builder through the first website and receiving from the customer through the first website a selection of an option of the options provided by the builder. The method further includes the steps of incorporating the selected options, into a new or modification of the pre-existing contract and the third-party website collecting a fee or commission based upon the products viewed by and selections made by the customer.

Under another embodiment, a method and apparatus are provided for offering or servicing a plurality of customers and/or a plurality of builders, including actual or prospective buyers or renters of real estate, among a plurality, consortium or conglomeration of builders, including actual or prospective sellers or lessors of residential or commercial real estate and/or a plurality of contractors or sub-contractors for construction services on real estate and/or a plurality, consortium or conglomeration of product manufacturers, sellers or distributors of a plurality of products and/or services for installation into real estate or buildings of the respective customers through a third-party website provider. The method includes the steps of the plurality of builders providing a plurality of product offerings, including multiple and varied physical products from a plurality of product manufacturers or suppliers to be installed at a building site into real estate and/or construction services to build and/or install such products or combinations of products which, taken together can constitute a product offering, grouping or class of product offering, or a plurality of product offerings through a first website provided by the third-party website provider and a customer of the plurality of customers and a builder of the plurality of builders presenting for sale and/or entering into a contract to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer at a building site of the real estate, said contract modifying a pre-existing contract for real estate or providing a separate contract for product offerings related to real estate and/or to incorporated into real estate. The method also includes the steps of the customer viewing and selecting a product offering or a product option of product offerings available from or through the builder, builders, prospective builder or prospective builders through the first website, receiving from the customer through the first website a selection of an option or product offering of the options and product offerings provided by the builder, builders, prospective builder or prospective builders, incorporating the selected product offering or options into a modification, rider or amendment of the pre-existing contract for real estate or forming a new contract for product offerings related to the pre-existing or new contract for the real estate and the third-party website provider collecting a fee or commission based upon the product offering or offerings viewed by and/or product offering, offerings selection or selections made by the customer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for servicing a customer of a builder in accordance with an illustrated embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a screen of a webpage that may be viewed through the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a screen of a webpage of a builder that may be viewed through the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a screen showing a model of a home that may be offered by the builder using the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 depicts a subdivision that may be marketed using the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 depicts a purchase offer that may be made to a builder using the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 depicts a sign-on screen that may be used by a customer or builder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 depicts a screen that may be viewed by a builder using the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 depicts a list of purchase offers that may be viewed by a builder using the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 depicts a particular purchase offer that may be viewed by the builder using the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 depicts a virtual showroom that may be visited by a customer of a builder using the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 depicts an options selection screen that may used by a customer of a builder using the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 depicts a more detailed options selection screen that may used by a customer of a builder using the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 depicts a showroom that may be used by customers of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 depicts hyperlinks that may be used by the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 provides a high level overview of website use of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 17 depicts builder logon and use of the builders' website of FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 depicts a new customer setup screen of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 19 depicts a new customer logon to the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 20 depicts logon to the system of FIG. 1 by an existing customer;

FIG. 21 depicts an options selection screen of the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 22 depicts an options selection screen used by the customer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 23-FIG. 29 depict a series of screens that a customer may view in succession.

FIG. 30 depicts a status ledger that may be used by a customer of a builder using the system of FIG. 1 to determine what additional selections need to be made.

FIG. 31 depicts a selection screen that may be used by a customer of a builder using the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 32-FIG. 34 depict additional selection screens that may be used by a customer of a builder using the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 35 depicts various forms and services that may be used by customers and builders using the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 36 depicts an online deposit system that may be used by a customer of a builder using the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 37 depicts web tools that may be available to builders using the system of FIG. 1.

Appendix I is a series of screens that a customer may view in succession.

Appendix II is a data model flow-chart of the system of FIG. 1.

Appendix III is an exhibit of details and screen shots of the system of FIG. 1.

Appendix IV is an exhibit of information flow and screen shots of the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The market for the system provided herein is, for example, the over 65,000 builder-members of the Home Builders Association, over 100,000 U.S. builders, the over 1,600,000 new-home starts per year or the millions of re-sale homes which need home improvements. An average new home price of about $200,000 provides a general market volume of over $300,000,000,000. The “secondary” product market of new-home upgrades or selections, referred to as “standards and extras,” averages $20,000 per home. Typically, some selections are referred to as standards and offered at no additional cost such as predefined grades of carpet, counter tops, cabinet, and some basic fixture colors. Standards are generally base grade and thus extras become a significant cost to customers and a profit center to builders and trades. These secondary extras often run from 1% to 20% or more of the original house price. This sub-market (at even 10% of the overall market) amounts to $30,000,000,000.

It is not unreasonable to state that one of the most frustrating parts of the buyer/builder/trades relationship is: 1) the standards and extras selection process and 2) the contract, supply, and administration process. Standards are standard options provided at no additional cost by the builder. Extras are at extra cost. The standards and extras selection process has no industry standards. Furthermore, customers, (who feel stressed by the purchase anyway) often feel as though they are a “captive market” to their builder's pricing and selections, since they have no other “market” or source for shopping or comparing.

Likewise, builders (already at the mercy of the trades and having enough difficulty coordinating the overall process of home construction on a fixed schedule) have trouble translating their customer's “dream home” into product, pricing and coordination. This is particularly difficult due to the broadly varied products to select and coordinate deliver from since no “hub” exists from which both builder and customer can both select products. In fact, many products have no retail availability except from trade to builder, or consist of labor-only field changes.

Customers are often restricted to builders' job-site show rooms and sales centers (if any) and builders, sales people. The show rooms and sales centers often have limited product information, limited hours, and offer little assistance in “shopping” outside their builders' showroom. Often customers want to see standard options and extras before signing the home buying contract, which builders view as difficult and a waste of time until the larger contract is executed. This leads them to the builders' selections center that is often ill-kept and not well “merchandised”. Most builders build the selections center as a small part of a temporary sales office located on-site, or simply maintain a library of industry catalogs and brochures.

The contract process can be just as hard on both customer and builder. There is no standard contract (unlike the typical local realtor contracts for existing homes). Customer and builder often rely on lawyers to negotiate both broad and fine points from scratch. Once executed, the complex language in the contracts is normally intimidating rather than serving as a help in instructing the customer on how to proceed toward options selections and closing. Often the contracts are burdened by references to such disasters (e.g., fire, flood, strikes, etc.) as to discourage the customer from executing the contract.

Builder's brochures (or web sites) offer such sales messages to customers as to: 1) the home facade and layout; 2) the location and 3) the builder. However, they do not do much to address the standards/extras product selections or the contract. These are left as subsequent hurdles. Builders spend thousands on sales centers whose primary focus is, again, the home design, layout, facade, lot, room dimensions, the location and the builder. The only other place customers can look at products is a local retailer (e.g., Sears, Best Buy, Home Depot, etc.). However, the local retailer is not focused on sales to the trades and not to the customer-builder relationship. Retail product lines also differ from products used in renovations.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 12 which substantially addresses these problems. The system 12 may be operated by a third party website provider on one or more central processing units (CPUs) 12 and databases (DBs) 11. Under the illustrated embodiment, one or more interactive websites 14, 16, 18 are provided by the CPU 12 for the benefit of customers 22, 24, builders 26, and suppliers 27, 28 and manufacturers 30, 31 (the trades). The websites 14, 16, 18 are interactive (in addition to the normal sense of being interactive to website users) in that information entered through one website may be made available to and be used by a user of another website (as described below). Further, it should be understood that while customers 22, 24 may be considered customers in the normal sense of the word, a builder 26 or member of the trades 27, 28, 30, 31 may also be a customer in another sense, as described hereunder. As used herein, a builder is defined as any person who sells a tangible product and who also physically installs that product, or who coordinates labor or a product's installation. A manufacturer manufactures such things as fixtures or other building materials (e.g., air conditioning or heating units, electrical outlets, etc.) that are used by the builder. Similarly, a supplier is a merchant that may purchase and warehouse goods provided by manufacturers or commodity suppliers (e.g., lumber providers) and provide those goods to the builder upon demand.

The system 12 of FIG. 1 is shown with a single builder 26, a number of customers 22, 24, a number of trades (suppliers 27, 28 and manufacturers 30, 31). The illustrated embodiment, in fact, will be described primarily in the context of the interaction between the single builder 26 and his customers 22, 24 and suppliers 27, 28 and the interaction between the customers 22, 24 and manufacturers 30, 31. It should be understood, however, that the system 12 may have many such builders 26, each with its own customers 22, 24 and suppliers 27, 28. Further, the customers 22, 24 and suppliers 27, 28 may simultaneously deal with many different builders 26 through the system 12. Manufacturers 30, 31 may deal with many different customers 22, 24 of many different builders 26.

A builder 26 may maintain one or more webpages 34 on a first website 16 for the benefit of customers 22, 24. The various screens of the webpages 34 may include product offerings relating to many different product spaces as well as standards and options available to buyers (e.g., customers 22, 24). A product offering in such case may be a physical product, a physical product along with installation services or services alone.

The webpages 34 may also include product offering contracts that may be downloaded by customers 22, 24. FIG. 16 provides a high level overview of activities that may be accomplished by a customer 22, 24 and builder through the website 16.

As used herein, a product space is the physical space within which the product is to be installed. A product offering includes the product as well as the installation of the product in its product space. In the context of new home construction, the product space may be a bathroom, a bedroom or the lot where a house (the product) is to be built.

Further, a product offering on the first website 16 may be a mix and match of various levels of product offerings. For example, a first builder 26 (“A”) may have a product offering that may be an integration of the various product offerings which are together commonly referred to as a home.

A second builder 26 (“B”) may specialize in a particular type of bathroom. The second builder B (on a first level) may be a subcontractor of the first builder A. A bathroom by B may be included by A in A's overall product offering. As such, a bathroom by B is one of A's product offerings. However, A and B may both maintain webpages 34 on the builders' website 16. In fact, A and B may have webpages customized by each builder 26 for the precise needs of the product offering of the builder 26.

The invention's maintenance of separate webpages 34 for A and B benefit both A and B. For example, if A includes B as a product offering, then A may simply list B as a product offering, linking to B's website to allow a customer 22, 24 to obtain information about the offering. Further, the customer 22, 24 may also want to visit builder C and D to view other product offerings for bathrooms.

Further product offerings may be provided by any of a number of product offerers. Product offerers may included manufacturers, suppliers, visitors to the site, designers, amateur or professional realtors, retailers or family of friends of a customer or potential customer. Any and all product offerer can contribute to the stock of available product options and offers and/or photo-image examples of product options and offerings. In the case of product offerers who are not builders, the product offerings may be posted in association with building products so that they are accessible to customers or potential customers who are interested in that building product.

The second website 14 may be accessed primarily by customers 22, 24. Customers 22, 24 may open password protected, personal webpages 32 based upon a request transmitted to the CPU 12. The webpage 32 may be used to display information contained within a customer file 42 stored in the database 11. The file 42 may be used by a customer 22, 24 as a personal repository of information from the builder's website 16 either as a potential or as an actual customer of the builder 26. Customers 22, 24 may continue to use the file 42 for personal information even after a sale closes.

The third website 18 may be marketed to the general public and may be accessed by any customer 22, 24 or member of the general public. The third website 18 may be designed similar to a retail store for on-line purchases and project coordination of builder-rehabber products. The third website 18 is intended to feature projects and pricing directed to capital improvements. As such, the third website 18 provides a retail-catalog showroom for manufacturers' (trades') products in a way that will be discussed below in more detail.

Product offerings may be created in any of a number of ways. A builder and customer may sit down and negotiate the terms of a product offering agreement. The product offering agreement may specify an overall product offering (e.g., a house) with many included product offerings (e.g., a kitchen, two bathrooms, etc.).

At least some of the included product offerings (hereinafter referred to simply as “product offerings”) may include choices that must be made by the customer 22, 24. In the case where the product offering is a bathroom, the standard options may be a choice between two types of sinks from a particular manufacturer. Alternatively, the term “standard options” may refer to an allowance (i.e., in dollars) which the builder will allow the customer 22, 24 to spend for purchase of the product associated with the product offering.

Under the illustrated embodiment, each product offering is associated with a category space. In some cases a category space may include several product offerings. For example, in the context of a home, a category space may be a bathroom. One product offering associated with the bathroom may be a sink, another may be faucets on the sink, a third may be a toilet or a tub. Other product offerings may be the color or type of paint that may be applied to the walls or whether tile is installed on the floor.

Under an illustrated embodiment of the invention, each category space is associated with one or more pages of a virtual showroom. Within the showroom, the standard options and extras options may be displayed, either as text or under a pictorial format.

The database (DB) 11 is provided with specific information with regard to the products contained within each product offering. The CPU 12 and DB 11 interact to form a relational database that is able to select categories based upon a category space. A menu associated with the virtual showroom allows the CPU 12 to select and organize category cells matching product with category spaces and “drill down” to the essential information for decision making. The menu also allows the CPU 12 to verify selected products' compatibility, and to assess selected products' installation details.

Alternatively, the CPU 12 may organize the category cells based upon brand identity (i.e., the name of the manufacture) or based upon stylistic groups (i.e., a Martha Stewart collection). Organization of cells may be altered by the customer 22, 24 based upon entry or selection of key words within an interactive window associated with particular segments of the virtual showroom.

Where a product has been identified in advance by the builder 26, a category cell may include the identified product as a standard option. The category cell may contain other standard options as well as extras options. Where no product has been identified (i.e., the contractor has given the customer an allowance for purchase of a product), the category cell may include hyperlinks to a website 38 of a manufacturer 30 who offers products which fall within the category cell, or may simply calculate a credit for no product selection.

To simplify selection of product offerings, a builder 26 may maintain a list of standard product offerings on his website 16 or on the system's 12 website. Information about standard product offerings may be accessed by customers 22, 24 to purchase a product offering or to simply comparison shop among builders 26. Builders 26 and new homes associations will be able to co-brand or cooperatively advertise their services in conjunction with this information.

Following is a detailed example of a product offering set in the context of a home purchase. While the detailed example is set into the context of home buying, it should be understood that a product offering may be made in commercial, office, retail, or any other specialty construction. Further, such a product offering may be set in any context involving the transfer of goods in conjunction with interrelated services.

FIGS. 16-22 are flow charts that are specifically related to the methods described above and set in the context of home building. Reference shall be made to FIGS. 16-22 as appropriate to an understanding of the invention.

The customer 22, 24 may access the information of webpage 34 of the builder 26 using several different routes. As a first route, the customer 22, 24 may enter the builder's website 16 through the front door (directly from the customer 22, 24 to the website 16 through the Internet 20) and view product information and options. The steps of logging-in under this process may be better understood by reference to the left side of FIG. 16. Using this approach, the customer 22, 24 does not have local storage at the website 16.

Alternatively, the customer 22, 24 may access the webpage 34 of the builder through another door (i.e., the back door). Accessing the builder's webpage 34 through the back door is accomplished through the customers' website 14. Reference may be made to FIGS. 19 and 20 for a better understanding of the log-in procedure. Customers also may access builder information through the system's 12 start page, or by traveling to the system 12 from one of the system's 12 promotional or related links.

If the customer is a new user, then he may be asked for a name or other identifying indicia. The user may also be asked to select and use a password. Further, as shown in FIG. 19, more than one user may share a customer file 42. The ability for more than one user to share a file 42 may be of use when a buyer wishes to share information associated with a home purchase with another party, such as a mother-in-law, a spouse, a broker, an interior designer, or other family.

The customer 22, 24 may locate the webpage 34 of the builder 26 through a local directory of builders offered through the website 14. Upon locating the webpage 34 of the builder 26, the customer 22, 24 may review and store information from the builder within the customer's file 42.

If a customer 22, 24 has not already requested a personal webpage 32, a webpage 32 may be opened once the customer has reached agreement with the builder 26 as shown in FIG. 18. Before or after a customer 22, 24 signs a building contract, the builder 26 may help the customer 22, 24 open a customer file 42 in the DB 11. The builder 26 may also provide a personalized file or webpage 32 for the customer 22, 24 on the customer's website 14, customized to the house selected by the customer 22, 24, so that the customer 22, 24 may further customize his house. The customer 22, 24 and builder 26 may share passwords for access to the customer file 42.

If the customer 22, 24 had already opened his own webpage 32, then the customer 22, 24 may already have downloaded information (FIG. 20) regarding the selected house, or a generic typical house to his file 42. In either case, the customer 22, 24 may or may not be required to share use of the file 42 with the builder 26.

Using the webpage 32, the customer 22, 24 may view and select standard options and extras for his particular choice of homes, which may be stored in the customer file 42. As the customer 22, 24 selects standard options and extras through his webpage 32, the builder 26 may review those selections through his website 16, if he has been given access to the customer file 42. Alternatively, the customer 22, 24 may e-mail a file containing one or more selections to the builder 26.

Under the illustrated embodiment, an owner of the third-party website provider 12 may receive a fee or commission for processing the selections of each customer 22, 24. The commission may be a flat fee, a percentage of purchases, or third-party revenues, such as advertising or data sales. The details, scope and situations giving rise to a commission will be discussed in greater detail below.

FIG. 2 depicts a builder's directory webpage 50 that may appear on the customer's terminal 22, 24. The builder's directory 50 may be viewed either through the builder's website 16 or though the customer's website 14. As shown, a customer 22, 24 may be offered the opportunity of viewing webpages 34 of any of a number of builders, or of a particular builder's homes and/or product selections. A customer 22, 24 may view a webpage of a particular builder by activating a softkey 52, 54, 56 associated with a selected builder.

FIG. 3 depicts a webpage 60 that may be presented to the customer 22, 24 based upon activation of a particular softkey (e.g., 52) of FIG. 2. (Webpage 60 is depicted as webpage 34 of FIG. 1 where the customer 22, 24 accesses the website directly through the builders website 16 or as webpage 32 where the customer 22, 24 accesses the builders information through the customers website 14.) As shown on the builder's webpage 60, the customer 22, 24 may be presented with a number of product offerings (e.g., appliances, floorings, fixtures, house models, or room changes) 62, 64 offered by that particular builder. As shown, each model or product may have a description of each model or product 68, 74 as well as a picture of the model or product 70, 76. Each model or product may also have a softkey 66, 72 which may be used to obtain more information (e.g., manufacturer or warranty information).

Upon activation of a softkey (e.g., 66) of FIG. 3, the webpage 78 of FIG. 4 may appear on the customer's terminal 22, 24 showing details of the selected product offering. As shown, floor plans 80, 82, 84 may be provided of the selected model as well as a list of standard features (standards) 86. Details of the standards 86 may be viewed by activation of a particular feature key 100, 102.

Also shown in FIG. 4 is a list of optional features 88. Shown associated with each option 104, 106 is a price adder or credit. Details of the option 104, 106 may be obtained by first activating a view detail key 108 and then activating a softkey 104, 106 associated with the option 104, 106. Activating (e.g., double-clicking on) the option key 104, 106 results in selection of the option 104, 106 for purchase. The selected option will then be included in the overall house purchase.

Selection of options 88 causes a price window 90 to change based upon the number of options selected. The price shown in price window 90 may be exclusive of the cost of the lot. To select a lot, the customer 22, 24 may activate a select lot key 92.

Upon activating a select lot key 92, the webpage 110 of FIG. 5 may appear. Shown on the webpage 110 may be a subdivision map 112 showing available lots. Also shown may be a softkey 114, 116, 118 showing a lot number and price associated with each lot.

Upon identifying a suitable lot by activating a softkey 114, 116, 118, the customer 22, 24 may activate a return key 120. Activation of the return key 120 may take the customer 22, 24 back to the previous webpage 78.

By returning to the previous webpage 78, the selected lot may now be identified in a lot window 92 along with a legal description of the lot in another window 94. The total cost of the house may now be displayed in a total price window 95.

Upon reviewing the details the customer 22, 24 may now accept the purchase by activating the purchase softkey 98. In response, the purchase offer webpage 122 of FIG. 6 may be presented to the customer 22, 24. Included within the purchase offer webpage 122 may be the home model number 124, the selected options 126, the legal description of the selected lot 128 and a total price 130.

A buyer's window 132 is presented with one or more specifically related forms for entry of identifying information about the customer 22, 24 and/or product options of product offerings. Within the buyer's window 132, the customer 22, 24 enters his name in a name window 142, address in an address window 144 and telephone number in a phone window 146. The customer 22, 24 is also provided with a credit reference window 148 for entry of credit references as well as an e-mail window 150 for entry of an e-mail address.

A customer file identifier window 152 is also provided in the case where the customer 22, 24 accesses the builder's webpage 34 through the customer's website 14 and has already established a customer file 42. The identifier of the customer file 42 may be automatically inserted into the identifier window 152 by the CPU 12.

Included on the purchase offer webpage 122 is a required deposit window 134 showing the payment reservation or deposit required to close the deal. The payment reservation or deposit requirement may be for all or only for a portion of the selected product offering(s). Also included is a window 136 where the customer 22, 24 may enter a method of payment reservation or deposit payment.

An online payment reservation and/or deposit system within the system 10 may accept the payment reservation or deposit and place the payment in an escrow account of the website provider using an internal escrow processor. The amount of the payment may be used for selected product options and/or any purchased extras and may be held in an escrow account of a third party completely unrelated to the website provider, the customer or builder. The payment reservation and deposit may be used as a credit source for the purchase of extras or an external credit source (e.g., a credit card, debit card, etc.) may be used.

Once the customer 22, 24 has entered his personal information, the customer 22, 24 may activate a print softkey 138 to print a copy of the product offering contract 122. The information entered into the various boxes 124, 126, 128 130, 132, 134, 146 may be incorporated by a contract establishment processor into the appropriate fields of a real estate contract or contract amendment for upgrades that the customer 22, 24 may sign and forward to the builder 26 as an offer to enter into a real estate contract or a modification of an existing contract. A second, submit purchase offer softkey 140 is also provided to submit an unsigned copy of the offer to the builder. Additional output forms can be generated in support of the processing of the building order, such as a jobsite copy, purchase order, lender information, etc.

In conjunction with the product offering contract, the system 10 may include a forms library to provide a variety of related forms 418 and services 420 (FIG. 35). Forms 418 may include change orders, product information, real estate contracts 421, mortgage financing 422, deed, real estate closing 424, and post-sale 426 forms. Services 420 may include lending 428, closing 430, title 432, tax 434, government 436, permits 438, insurance 440, inspection 442, appraisal 444, RESPA 446, utility 448, warrantee 450, and moving 452.

The builder 26 may access offers through a second webpage 35 of the builder's website 16. Upon accessing the webpage 35, the screen 142 of FIG. 7 may be presented to the builder 26. As shown, the builder 26 may be required to enter a name and password in a name and password window 144, 146.

Upon entry of a name and password (and verification by the CPU 12), the CPU 12 may present the builder 26 with a menu webpage 150 (FIG. 8). The process of builder access to the website 16 may be better understood by reference to FIG. 17. From the menu webpage 150, the builder 26 may activate a purchase offers softkey 152 and be presented with a list of purchase offers in a purchase offers webpage 160 of FIG. 9.

Within the purchase offers webpage 160, the builder 26 may select purchase offer #1 162 for review. In response, a summary page 170 of FIG. 10 may be provided for review by the builder 26. Contained within the screen 170 may be a window 172 containing the purchase information entered by the customer through screen 122. The builder 26 may review the information and activate either an accept softkey 174 or a reject softkey 176. The builder 26 may conditionally accept or reject the offer before the signed copy of the contract arrives or if the deposit is insufficient. The builder 26 may also condition his acceptance or rejection on field conditions or his sub-contractors.

Upon acceptance of an offer, the CPU 12 first checks to see if the customer 22, 24 has a customer file 42. If the customer 22, 24 does not, the CPU 12 opens a file 42 for the customer 22, 24. In addition, the CPU 12 retrieves a features and options list from the builder's file 44 and transfers the features and options list to the customers file 42. Each entry of the features and options list has a field that relates the feature and option to a product space. The features and options list represents a list of choices that a customer 22, 24 may have in the construction of the purchased home.

For example, the features and options list may include options for standard features and extras. Standard features options may include fixtures that may be selected at no extra cost. Extras options may be options that may available among the upgrades that may have previously selected or may now be added. Extras options may be unique, or may replace standards features.

As a final step, the CPU 12 may compose an e-mail (or printed) message to the customer 22, 24 announcing acceptance of the offer. If the customer 22, 24 did not previously have a customer file 42, the e-mail message may identify the file and provide instructions for accessing the file 42 through the customer's website 14. The message may also include general instructions as to the types of selections that the new home buyer may need to make, and procedures and due dates for making selections.

The e-mail may also include instructions as to how to transfer selections to the builder 26. The customer 22, 24 may be given the option of sharing a password with the builder, allowing the builder 26 to access the customer's file 42. Alternately, the customer 22, 24 is given the options and instructions of how to e-mail selections to the builder 26.

Following the instructions of the e-mail, the customer 22, 24 may access the customer's website 14 and be presented with the virtual showroom options webpage 180 of FIG. 11 based upon the builder's features and options list transferred from the builder file 44 to the customer file 42. The process of customer access to the virtual showroom may be better understood by reference to FIG. 22. The entries of the showroom options webpage 180 may be divided by product space (e.g., kitchen 182, living room 184, bath #1 188, bath #2 190, bedroom #1 192, bedroom #2 194, bedroom #3 196), by overall function (e.g., heating 198, air conditioning 200, house exterior options 202, fireplace 204), or by design criteria (e.g., modern 199, traditional 201, chrome 203, brass 205). Further, some entries (e.g., kitchen 182, baths #1 #2 188, 190) may be accompanied with drawings to further clarify the scope of the optional features.

If the customer 22, 24 were to activate the kitchen softkey 182 of FIG. 11, then the screen 210 of FIG. 12 may be presented to the customer. Included within the screen 210 of FIG. 12 are a set of choices that the customer 22, 24 may have regarding construction of the kitchen.

As a first step, the customer 22, 24 may activate a “view kitchen” softkey 211. In response, a graphical image (FIG. 23) may be presented to the customer 22, 24 providing the customer 22, 24 with the opportunity of viewing a kitchen using standard options, a kitchen with certain extras, or both.

Alternatively, the customer 22, 24 may wish to view a kitchen layout. To view a layout, the customer 22, 24 may activate a layout softkey 213. Upon activation of the layout softkey 213, the customer 22, 24 may be presented with an overhead view (FIG. 24) of the kitchen.

After viewing the kitchen, the customer 22, 24 may proceed with the selection of standards and extras. For example, the customer 22, 24 may determine that carpeting may be the best choice of a floor covering for his kitchen. Accordingly, the customer 22, 24 may press the carpet softkey 214.

In response, the customer 22, 24 may be taken to the carpet selection screen 226 (FIG. 13). The carpet selection screen 226 provides at least two carpet selections 228, 234 as standard options for the customer 22, 24. As such, the customer 22, 24 could select either of the two standard options 228, 234 at no additional cost (as shown by the N/A entry in the PRICE ADDER column).

Alternatively, the customer 22, 24 may select a better carpet 240 also offered by the builder 26. As shown, the better carpet 240 may be offered at a price adder 242.

As a further alternative, the customer 22, 24 may choose to select a product offering of a customer wood floor 249 by another contractor. In this case, a different price adder 251 would be included.

As shown in FIG. 13, selection of a carpet option is not complete by selection of the carpet by itself. Also necessary to complete a carpet selection is a color selection. If the customer 22, 24 were to select the first carpet selection 228, then the customer 22, 24 would have the choice of brown or blue. The customer 22, 24 would make such a selection by pressing the appropriate soft key 230, 232.

If the customer 22, 24 had selected carpet from the second supplier 234, then the customer 22, 24 may select other colors based upon other softkeys 236, 238. Similarly, if the customer 22, 24 were to select the optional carpet 240 at added cost, then he may select available colors by activation of related softkeys 244, 246.

The system 12 may further suggest related (but not required) products and upgrades to customers 22, 24. For example, if a customer 22, 24 selects a wood floor 249, the system could suggest a throw rug.

If the customer 22, 24 were not happy with the standard options, the customer 22, 24 may activate hyperlinks 248, 250 to other suppliers (i.e., manufacturers 30) not associated with the builder 26. Purchase of carpet from the other suppliers through hyperlinks 248, 250 may be accomplished using methods well-known in the art.

In another alternative, the customer 22, 24 may choose to select a brand name 223 or stylistic group 224, before making other selections on screen 210. In this case, the manufacturers of FIG. 13 may be limited to the selection made as opposed to the products preselected by the builder 26.

For example, the customer 22, 24 may first activate the selection of “refrigerator” from the appliances list of FIG. 12 and then brand 223 and/or stylistic group 224. In response, the screen 300 of FIG. 25 may be presented. Within the screen 300, the customer 22, 24 may specify a search criteria for a refrigerator. The customer 22, 24 may specify a style criteria 302, a design 304, a price 306, a material 308 and/or color 310.

FIG. 26 shows a possible search criteria that may be selected by the customer 22, 24. Upon completion of the selection of the search criteria, the customer 22, 24 activates the search key 312.

Upon activation of the search key 312, the screen 320 (FIG. 27) may be presented showing search results. Shown in the screen 320 may be a number of product options as well as identifying information about those options. Shown along a top of the screen 320 is the search criteria returning those results. Upon reviewing the results, the customer 22, 24 may wish to see more information about the first search result. To obtain more information, the customer 22, 24 may activate the “see more info” key 322.

Activating the more info key 322 may take the customer 22, 24 to the more info screen 330 (FIG. 28) which shows additional detail of the selected product. Upon reviewing the information, the customer 22, 24 may select the option by selecting “add to my cart” 326 or return to the previous screen by activating the search key 332.

As an alternative, one of the search results of screen 320 may have been a hyperlink 328 to the refrigerator manufacturer Sub-Zero. Activation of that hyperlink may take the customer to screen 340 (FIG. 29). From screen 340, the customer 22, 24 may view any of a number of Sub-Zero products by activation of the proper additional hyperlink.

Further, research may indicate that buyers of a particular product or stylistic group (e.g., the Martha Stewart Collection, or traditional wood trim) are more likely to purchase other related household items (e.g., baskets, floral patterns, etc.). Accordingly, selection of the identified products may also trigger a window asking the customer 22, 24 if he/she also wants to purchase the related item as part of an upselling opportunity.

In another alternative, the customer 22, 24 may activate an information softkey 221 and be taken to the screen 225 of FIG. 21. Screen 225 may be used by the customer 22, 24 for purposes of reviewing a current selection, other popular choices or a designer collection.

In another embodiment, image searching may be used. To perform an image search, a customer or potential customer may select a product offering (e.g., the refrigerator of FIG. 27). In response, an image search processor may present the customer or potential customer with a number of softkeys (e.g., MORE LIKE THIS, DIFFERENT COLOR, etc.). In this case, the image search processor may retrieve metadata associated with the image to search for images of other product offering with similar characteristics. For example, if the refrigerator were to have a stainless steel finish and a bottom freezer, then the metadata would include those characteristics as key words. In this case, the image search processor may search for product offerings (i.e., refrigerators) with the same or similar key words.

Similarly, if the customer or potential customer should select the DIFFERENT COLOR softkey, then a similar process would be used. In this case, the image processor would search product data of the selected product to identify an image of the same product in other colors and present any identified images with the other color options.

Alternatively, the customer or potential customer may begin a search of image files using a selected keyword (e.g., refrigerator). The image search processor may, first, perform a search for images of refrigerators and, then, display any located images. The customer or potential customer may then activate a MORE LIKE THIS or a DIFFERENT COLOR softkey and proceed as above.

The customer or potential customer may also place a cursor over a feature on an image (e.g., an icemaker on a refrigerator) and double click. In response, the image search processor may highlight this feature. If the customer or potential customer should then activate the MORE LIKE THIS softkey, then the image search processor would perform a further search for similar products using descriptors of the selected feature as further search terms.

It should be understood that a commission processor within the CPU 12 of the system 12 tracks use of the hyperlinks 248, 250 and charges a fee or commission on any views and/or purchases based upon the use of such hyperlinks 248, 250. Such commission may be charged to the hyperlink destination (e.g., the manufacturer 30), based upon any sale made by the builder 26 or his sub-contractors of the manufacturer's 30 products to the customer 22, 24.

Returning now to FIG. 12, the customer 22, 24 may proceed through each of the standards and extras making selections as appropriate. If appliances 222 were included in the real estate contract, then the customer 22, 24 would be prompted to make a selection for each included appliance including make and color. The system will provide coordinated information on product promotions, such as “sale” products, or newly offered products.

Once options are selected for the kitchen, the customer 22, 24 may return to the menu 180 in FIG. 11 and individually proceed through each selected item 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 199, 201, 203, or 205 making required selections. While many items would require an explicit selection from the customer 22, 24, some items need not be explicitly chosen by the customer 22, 24. For example, wall color in the contract may have been negotiated to be an off-color white. In this case, the builder may omit paint color, or any new choice from the builder's features and options list transferred to the customer's file 42.

Once the customer 22, 24 has completed his selections from the features and options list, the customer 22, 24 may activate a selection complete softkey 206. A deposit window 454 (FIG. 36) may then appear, allowing the customer to place a deposit on his selections. Also included is a window 456 where the customer 22, 24 may enter a method of deposit payment (e.g., a check, credit card, debit card, etc.) for entry into a deposit account within the system 10. The system 10 may also provide an online payment reservation or deposit system for payment by the customer of all or a portion of the selected product offering.

Activation of the selection complete softkey 206 may cause the CPU 12 to compose an e-mail message to the builder 26 summarizing the selections made by the customer 22, 24. Alternatively, where the builder 26 and customer 22, 24, share passwords for the customer file 42, the builder 26 may simply retrieve the selections list directly from the customer file 42.

A tracking system within the system 10 operates on a number of different levels to aggregate selections and allow manufacturers 30, 31 to pre-view these selections. On a first level, the tracking system allows manufacturers, sub-contractors and vendors to pre-view potential orders, groups of orders and customer product viewings 26.

On another level, the tracking system may track buying trends. The buying trends may be collected into a buying trends database. Buying trends data that may be collected includes, but is not limited to, product views, partial selections, final selections, and demographics.

As an aid to completing the selection of options, a number of reminder features are offered by the system 10. For example, during feature selection from appropriate portion of the showroom (e.g., screen 330, FIG. 28) the customer 22, 24 may review a selection status ledger.

To review the selection status ledger, the customer 22, 24 may activate a softkey of selections to be made 344 or selection deadlines 346. Upon activation of the selections to be made softkey 344, the customer 22, 24 may be taken to the screen 350 of FIG. 30.

Shown along the left margin of screen 350 is a graphical status indicator 352 of the selection status. The graphical status indicator 352 may be used as a shortcut into the showroom for unselected product offerings.

For example, the customer 22, 24 may note from the status ledger 350 that the den was not complete. In response, the customer 22, 24 may select the den 354 and be taken to screen 360 of FIG. 31.

On screen 360, the den may be highlighted in the left margin 352 as a current location. Further, an indicator 372 may be provided of the feature space to which the selection is to be directed. The screen 360 may also list three options 362, 364, 366, 370. An icon of a product, or a camera 368 may be selected for a pictorial view of each option. A selection date 376 may be provided as a deadline for making a selection for the den.

If the customer should select the first option 370 for oak plank for the floor, a current selection column will show an icon or an “x” in the “yes” column. The customer 22, 24 may complete the selection by activating the “final selection done” button 374.

Returning to the status ledger 350, the customer 22, 24 may then go to the kitchen to make other selections in this feature space. The customer 22, 24 may go to the kitchen by activating the kitchen icon 354 in the left margin.

In response, the customer 22, 24 may be taken the screen 380 (FIG. 32), which shows a feature space (e.g., a counter) 372 within which a selection needs to be made. In this case, the customer 22, 24 may activate the more information button to view images 382 of the options.

After making a selection with regard to the counters, the customer 22, 24 may select cabinets 384 for another set of options shown on screen 390 of FIG. 33. Within the cabinets screen 390 a set of images 392, 394, 396, 398, 400 may be provided of the possible cabinet choices.

Once the customer 22, 24 has completed set of selections for the kitchen, the customer 22, 24 may activate the final selection done button 374. Upon activating a final selection button 374, the customer 22, 24 may be taken to a selections summary screen 410 (FIG. 34). Shown on the selections summary screen 410 is a list of current selections as well as a list 416 of the cost of any extras added during the current selection session for the kitchen.

Upon reviewing the list 416, the customer 22, 24 may return to selecting items by activating the see selections to made button 344 or see selections by date 346. Alternatively, the customer 22, 24 may send a list of selected items to the builder 26 by activating a message button 412.

Based upon the options list the CPU 12 may compose a number of e-mails to the suppliers 27, 28 of the builder 26 for purposes of placing orders for selected product. One e-mail may be to one or more appliance suppliers 27, 28 for selected appliances. Another e-mail may be a carpet supplier 27, 28. A third e-mail may be to a paint supplier. Another e-mail may be to a mechanical supplier 27, 28 for furnaces and air conditions. Included within each of these e-mails may be a request for an updated price quote as well as a lead time for delivery.

Based upon the response to the request for lead times, the builder 26 may adopt a construction schedule based upon a requested completion date 135 (FIG. 6) included in the real estate contract. As would be generally understood, a construction schedule is typically based upon a predetermined ordering sequence (e.g., in-wall electrical would be required before walls and paint, paint would be required before most appliances). Using the predetermined schedule, completion date 135 and lead times provided by the suppliers 27, 28, the CPU 12 would create a building schedule including ordering dates for each of the materials of each of the selected options.

Based upon the entries within the construction schedule, the CPU 12 may identify options which have not been made by the customer 22, 24. Upon identifying those selections not made by the customer, the CPU 12 may notify the builder 26 and customer 22, 24, by e-mail or otherwise of dates and acts necessary to conform to the construction schedule.

As an alternative to automatically forwarding orders to suppliers, the system 10 or the builder 26 may group orders for purposes of obtaining volume discounts. In this regard, the system 10 may collect data from a plurality of builders or potential builders or customers and potential customers to create a third website or report or system allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, or vendors to pre-view potential orders, groups of orders, or customer product viewings.

In order to group orders, the builder 26 may also periodically print out the grouped orders and physically send the grouped order to a supplier 27, 28 or the system 10 may transmit the grouped orders by e-mail or fax. The websites of the system 10 may also offer purchase and pre-purchase information, promote a buyers' group service for a plurality of builders or customers or potential customers for volume discounts or advertising.

Using the builder's terminal 26, the builder may periodically review the construction schedule. Based upon the review, the builder 26 or the system 10 may send messages to the customer 22, 24 reminding the customer 22, 24 of deadlines for making selections.

Under another alternate illustrated embodiment, a third website 18 may be provided for a broader array of customers. In this context, a customer may be the originally defined customers 22, 24 as well as the builder 26 or suppliers 27, 28. As each customer 22, 24, 26, 27, 28 accesses the website 18, the webpage 260 may be presented to the customer (FIG. 14). Based upon the customer's needs, any of a number of subject matter may be selected for purchase based upon activation of the appropriate softkey 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, or 276.

Activation of a softkey (e.g., 262) may take the customer to a furnaces webpage 278 showing a number of furnace options. (FIG. 15) Information on special types of furnaces may be obtained by selection of the appropriate softkeys 280, 282. Information from specific manufactures may also be obtained by selecting a hyperlink 286, 288 which may take the customer to a website (e.g., 38) of the manufacturer.

Upon reaching the appropriate webpage, a customer may fill his shopping cart with selected merchandise. As used herein, a “shopping cart” is simply file and information gathering and ordering software residing in a terminal of the customer 22, 24, 26, 27, 28 which retains product information of selected merchandise. Upon activation of a softkey on the shopping cart, the ordering software functions to transmit ordering information to the appropriate manufacturer or supplier.

As above, the owner of the system 12 may use the commission processor to receive a fee or commission on any views or purchases made based upon activation of a selected hyperlink. Further, the owner of the system 12 may receive fees or commissions based upon advertising displayed on the webpages 278 of the product categories.

Under another alternate illustrated embodiment of the invention, a builder 26 and designer (e.g., supplier 27, 28) may use the builder's website 16 for designing and developing building drawings (e.g., a kitchen design). Under the embodiment, either party may propose and create a preliminary design concept using an appropriate graphics software package (e.g., Visio) and save the design in a design file. Once a design file has been created, it may be e-mailed to the other party. The other party, using the same graphics package, may mark the file up or modify the design and e-mail the file back to the other party. Once both parties agree to the design, the builder 26 may convert the graphics file to a webpage using a simple graphics conversion process (e.g., printing out the Visio design file and scanning the printout to obtain a html graphics display that may be mounted on the builder's webpage 34). The new design may then become the basis of new or additional product offerings of the builder 26.

As a further embodiment of the invention, the designer may also develop and attach specification sheets to each design drawing of the Visio file. The specification sheets may be used to specify product(s)/product offerings to be used in the product spaces of the design.

Upon converting each design drawing to a html file for display on a webpage 34, the builder 26 may also associate one or more design spaces with each design drawing. Product(s)/product offerings from the specification sheets of the drawing may then be associated with each design space and incorporated into the features and options list for the design space.

Under another illustrated embodiment of the invention, file transfer among builders, suppliers and manufactures may be standardized to a common file format (e.g., XML). Under the embodiment, the file creator follows a predetermined format for creation of the file. For example, a product identifier may be placed in a first field. The product identifier may be one or more alphanumeric characters which identifies the product as a refrigerator or a bathroom faucet. The product identifier may also be used for product offerings.

An identifier of an originator may be placed in a second field. A product number (model number and serial number, if a manufacturer) may be placed in a third field. Any graphics associated with the product may be placed in further fields.

Under the embodiment, the receiver of such an XML file may be able to universally interpret the file based upon file content. The product type identifies the types of suppliers of such products. The identifier of the originator allows the recipient to read local source files to determine the types of model number and serial numbers used by the originator, and, ultimately to interpret model and serial numbers included within the remainder of the XML file.

By using the common, or coordinated file formats, builders 26, suppliers 27, 28 and manufactures 30, 31 may exchange information without advance knowledge of the source or format of the file. Orders and order confirmations may be exchanged without the intervention of ordering clerks or project schedulers.

As an additional embodiment of the invention, web online tools 458 (FIG. 37) may be provided to builders 26, sub-contractors suppliers and/or manufacturers to allow the builder, sub-contractor, suppliers and manufacturers to communicate with the customer and/or builder regarding product option selection. Included among the web tools 458 offered to builders 26 are e-mail 460, real-time chat 462, calendars 464, escrow services 466, e-business services 468, job-site reports of the real estate building site 470, notices 472, attendance tracking 474, buyer satisfaction ratings 476, next-day activity lists 478, job-site logs 480, messaging 482, post-its 484, products, sample request-taking systems 486, and threaded discussion groups 488. Other tools and systems available through one or both of the websites may include order verification and tracking of the product offering, selection, payment or deposits, secondary selections or availability or installation to the real estate site.

As a further embodiment of the invention, the system 10 allows manufacturers, sub-contractors, or suppliers to display or advertise their products through the websites. The system 10 may collects up-front access or click-to-view fees or commissions, semi-custom web design fees or commissions, and data service fees or commissions from builders 26 or other providers or third-party advertisers, manufacturers or suppliers or builders.

A specific embodiment of a method and apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder according to the present invention has been described for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention is made and used. It should be understood that the implementation of other variations and modifications of the invention and its various aspects will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and that the invention is not limited by the specific embodiments described. Therefore, it is contemplated to cover the present invention and any and all modifications, variations, or equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the basic underlying principles disclosed and claimed herein. 

1. A method of servicing a plurality of customers or potential customers and/or builders and/or potential builders among a plurality of builders or other product offerers by a third-party website provider to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customers or potential customers at respective building sites of the customers or potential customers, such method comprising: providing a first website by the third-party website provider for use by the plurality of customers or potential customers in viewing and selecting product options or product offerings available from or through the plurality of builders or other product offerers, where an information content of at least some customers or potential customers of the plurality of customers or potential customers within said first website is password protected by a respective password of the at least some customers or potential customers of the plurality of customers or potential customers; providing a variety of specifically related forms related to product options of product offerings to be filled out through the first web site; providing a second website associated with the first website by the third-party website provider for entry of information related to customers or potential customers information and the respective building sites of the real estate; receiving through the first website a selection of an option of the options provided by the builder, potential builder or product offerer; incorporating the selected option, and a content of the specifically related forms into an offer to enter into a real estate contract or a modification of an existing contract; in response to the offer a builder or potential builder of the plurality of builders or potential builder or other product offerer entering into a contract to build or rehabilitate real estate for a customer or potential customer at the building site of the real estate of the customer, said contract forming a new contract or a modification or amendment of a pre-existing contract; and collecting a fee or commission based upon the products viewed by and selections made by the customer.
 2. The method of servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing related forms further comprises supplying change orders, product information, real estate contracts, mortgage financing, deed or real estate closing forms.
 3. The method of servicing a customer or potential customer of a builder as in claim 1 further comprising the website offering purchase and pre-purchase information, promoting a buyers' group service for a plurality of builders or customers or potential customers for volume discounts or advertising.
 4. The method of servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing the first website further comprises providing an online payment reservation or deposit system for payment by the customer of all or a portion of the selected product offering.
 5. The method of servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 4 wherein the step of providing the online payment reservation or deposit system further comprises placing the payment in escrow.
 6. The method of servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 4 further comprising purchasing extras using the online deposit system, paying for a portion of the purchased extras and holding such payment of deposit in an escrow by the third party.
 7. The method of servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing a website further comprises providing order verification and tracking of the product offering, selection, payment or deposits, secondary selections or availability or installation to the real estate site.
 8. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 further comprising collecting data concerning buying trends of a plurality of customers or potential customers and builders or potential builders or other offerers.
 9. The method for servicing a customer or potential customer of a builder or potential builder as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing the website further comprises collecting data from a plurality of builders or potential builders or customers and potential customers to create a third website or report allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, or vendors to pre-view potential orders, groups of orders, or customer product viewings.
 10. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 further comprising providing web on-line communications tools to the builder, sub-contractors, suppliers or manufacturers to communicate with the customer and/or builder regarding option selections.
 11. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 10 further comprising defining the web and communication tools as at least one of the group consisting of e-mail, real-time chat, calendars, escrow services, e-business services, job-site reports of the real estate building site, notices, attendance tracking, buyer satisfaction ratings, next day activity lists, job-site logs, messaging, post-its, products, and threaded discussion groups.
 12. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 further comprising collecting up-front access or click-to-view fees or commissions, semi-custom web design fees or commissions, and data service fees or commissions from the builder or other providers or third-party advertisers, manufacturers or suppliers, or builders.
 13. The method for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing the first website further comprises allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, or suppliers to display or advertise their products through the websites.
 14. An apparatus for servicing a plurality of customers or potential customers among a plurality of builders by a third-party website provider, such apparatus comprising: means for providing a first website by the third-party website provider for use by the plurality of customers or potential customers in viewing and selecting product options of product offerings available from the plurality of builders or the third party web site provider or posted to the websites of the third party provider by other product offerers, an information content of at least some customers of the plurality of customers within said first website being password protected by a respective password of the at least some customers; means for establishing and/or maintaining the terms of a contract between a customer of the plurality of customers and a builder of the plurality of builders or other product offerers to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer at a building site of the real estate, said contract forming a new contract or a modification or amendment of a pre-existing contract; means for providing a variety of related forms to be filled out by the customer through the first website; means for providing a second website associated with the first website by the third-party website provider for entry of information related by the customer to the builder said second website being password protected by a password of the builder or customer or both or other product offerer; means for receiving from the customer through the first website a selection of an option of the options provided by the builder or the third party or other product offerer; means for incorporating the selected options and content of the filled in forms into an offer to enter into or a modification of the contract; and means for collecting a fee or commission based upon the products viewed by or selections made by the customer.
 15. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 14 wherein the means for providing related forms further comprises means for filtering and generating contract, change orders, mortgage financing, closing, deed, bill of sale and forms.
 16. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 14 further comprising means for offering purchase and pre-purchase information or data reports.
 17. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 14 further comprising means for offering purchase and pre-purchase information or data reports, servicing or promoting a buyers' group service for a plurality of builders for volume discounts or advertising, facilitating lending, closing, title, inspection, appraisal, warrantee, or change-of address information services, or providing post-closing warrantee and product information, or customer service or sales support.
 18. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 14 wherein the means for providing the first website further comprises means for offering an online payment reservation or deposit system for payment by the customer of all or a portion of the selected product offerings.
 19. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 18 wherein the means for offering an online payment reservation or deposit system for payment further comprises means for placing the payment in escrow.
 20. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 18 wherein the means for offering the online deposit system further comprises means for purchasing extras and for payment by the customer of a portion of the product offering being selected or holding such reservation or deposit in escrow by the third party.
 21. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder of plurality of builders as in claim 14 wherein the means for providing the first website further comprises means for providing order verification and tracking of the product offering, selection, payment or deposits, secondary selections, availability or installation into the real estate building site.
 22. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder of the plurality of builders as in claim 14 further comprising means for collecting data concerning buying trends among a plurality of customers or potential customers or the plurality of builders.
 23. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder of the plurality of builders as in claim 14 wherein the means for providing the first website further comprises means for allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, or vendors to pre-view potential orders, groups of orders, or customer or builder's product offerings or orders.
 24. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder of the plurality of builders as in claim 14 further comprising means for providing web or online communications tools to the builder, sub-contractors, suppliers or manufacturers.
 25. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder of the plurality of builders as in claim 24 wherein the web and communication tools further comprise at least one of the group consisting of e-mail, real-time chat, calendars, escrow services, e-business services, job-site reports, notices, job-site attendance tracking, buyer satisfaction ratings, activity lists, job-site logs, messaging, post-its, sample request-taking system, or threaded discussion groups.
 26. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 14 further comprising means for collecting up-front access fees, semi-custom web site design, or data service fees or commissions from the builders or potential builders.
 27. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 14 wherein the means of providing the first website further comprises means for allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, and suppliers to advertise their products through the system.
 28. An apparatus for servicing a plurality of customers or potential customers and/or builders and/or potential builders among a plurality of builders or other product offerers by a third-party website provider to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customers or potential customers at respective building sites of the customers or potential customers, such method comprising the steps of: a first website provided by the third-party website provider for use by the plurality of customers or potential customers in viewing and selecting product options or product offerings available from or through the plurality of builders or other product offerers, where an information content of at least some customers or potential customers of the plurality of customers or potential customers within said first website is password protected by a respective password of the at least some customers or potential customers of the plurality of customers or potential customers; a variety of specifically related forms related to product options of product offerings to be filled out through the first web site; a second website associated with the first website provided by the third-party website provider for entry of information related to customers or potential customers information and the respective building sites of the real estate; a selection of an option of the options provided by the builder, potential builder or product offerer received through the first website; a contract establishment processor that incorporates the selected options, and a content of the specifically related forms into an offer to enter into a real estate contract or a modification of an existing contract to build or rehabilitate real estate; a contract between a customer or potential customer of the plurality of customers or potential customers and a builder or potential builder of the plurality of builders or potential builder or other product offerer where the contract is based upon the offer to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer or potential customer at the building site of the real estate, said contract forming a new contract or a modification or amendment of a pre-existing contract; and a commission processor that collects a fee or commission based upon the products viewed by and selections made by the customer.
 29. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 28 wherein the related forms further comprise product information, contract, mortgage financing, closing, deed, bill or sale and forms.
 30. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 28 wherein the first website further comprises an online payment reservation deposit system for payment by the customer of all or a portion of the selected product offering.
 31. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 30 wherein the online deposit system further comprises a credit source for the purchase of extras.
 32. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 28 wherein the first website further comprises an order verification and tracking system.
 33. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 28 further comprising a system for collecting data concerning buying trends among a plurality of customers or the plurality of builders.
 34. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 28 wherein the first website further comprises a system for allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, and vendors to pre-view potential orders, groups of orders, and customer product viewings.
 35. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder as in claim 28 further comprising web and communications tools available to the builder, sub-contractors, and suppliers.
 36. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 35 wherein the web and communication tools further comprise at least one of the group consisting of e-mail, real-time chat, calendars, escrow services, e-business services, job-site reports, notices, job-site attendance tracking, buyer satisfaction ratings, next day activity lists, job-site logs, messaging, post-its, sample request-taking system, and threaded discussion groups.
 37. The apparatus for servicing a customer of a builder or plurality of builders as in claim 28 wherein the first website further comprises a system for allowing manufacturers, sub-contractors, and suppliers to advertise their products.
 38. A method of offering or servicing a plurality of customers and/or a plurality of builders, including actual or prospective buyers or renters of real estate, among a plurality, consortium or conglomeration of builders, including actual or prospective sellers or lessors of residential or commercial real estate and/or a plurality of contractors or sub-contractors for construction services on real estate and/or a plurality, consortium or conglomeration of product manufacturers, sellers or distributors of a plurality of products and/or services for installation into real estate or buildings of the respective customers through a third-party website provider, such method comprising the steps of: the plurality of builders providing a plurality of product offerings, including multiple and varied physical products from a plurality of product manufacturers or suppliers to be installed at a building site into real estate and/or construction services to build and/or install such products or combinations of products which, taken together can constitute a product offering, grouping or class of product offering, or a plurality of product offerings through a first website provided by the third-party website provider; a customer of the plurality of customers and a builder of the plurality of builders presenting for sale and/or entering into a contract to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer at a building site of the real estate, said contract modifying a pre-existing contract for real estate or providing a separate contract for product offerings related to real estate and/or to incorporated into real estate; the customer viewing and selecting a product offering or a product option of product offerings available from or through the builder, builders, prospective builder or prospective builders through the first website receiving from the customer through the first website a selection of an option or product offering of the options and product offerings provided by the builder, builders, prospective builder or prospective builders; incorporating the selected product offering or options into a modification, rider or amendment of the pre-existing contract for real estate or forming a new contract for product offerings related to the pre-existing or new contract for the real estate; and the third-party website provider collecting a fee or commission based upon the product offering or offerings viewed by and/or product offering, offerings selection or selections made by the customer.
 39. The method of servicing the plurality of customers and/or the plurality of builders as in claim 38 further comprising the third-party website collecting a fee or commission based upon the activity generated by the use of the third-party web-site by the plurality of customers and builders, and the viewing and/or selecting among the plurality of product offerings viewed by and or product offerings or selections made by the plurality of customers and/or the plurality of product offerings offered by the builders or a plurality of product offerings suggested by the third-party web-site to be offered or incorporated into a contract for real estate or building.
 40. The method of servicing the plurality of customers and/or plurality of builders as in claim 39 further comprising the third-party web-site collecting a fee or commission based upon an analysis of data from activity generated by use of the third-party website including a plurality of related or unrelated data obtained from activity of the third-party website and analysis of said activity and data and relational or statistical trends to evaluate and/or focus the product offerings made to a customer of the plurality of customers of the third party web-site among the plurality of product offerings.
 41. The method of servicing the plurality of customers as in claim 40 further comprising the third-party web-site further focusing use and deployment of product offerings with marketing and sales strategies targeted to a plurality of future users of the third-party website or based upon the analysis of data from the activity generated by past use of the third-party website including the plurality of related or unrelated data obtained by the activity of the third-party website and the analysis of said activity and data and relational or statistical trends to evaluate and/or focus the product offerings made to a user of the plurality of users of the third party web-site among the plurality of product offerings suggested by the third-party web-site to be offered to related or incorporated with a contract for real estate or building.
 42. A method of servicing customers of a plurality of builders or a plurality of builders through a third-party website provider, such method comprising the steps of: the plurality of builders providing product offerings to customers through a first website provided by the third-party website provider; a customer of the plurality of customers and a builder of the plurality of builders entering into a contract to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer at a building site of the real estate, said contract forming a pre-existing contract; the customer viewing and selecting product options of product offerings available from or through the builder through the first website; receiving from the customer through the first website a selection of an option of the options provided by the builder; incorporating the selected options, into a new or modification of the pre-existing contract; and the third-party website collecting a fee or commission based upon the products viewed by and selections made by the customer. 